Robert Menzies had been leader of the Liberal Party since its foundation in 1945, and prime minister since 1949. There had been persistent rumours that he would retire since 1951.[1] He turned seventy-one in December 1965, and on 26 December informed his press secretary, Tony Eggleton, that he would leave office early the following year. Holt was allegedly tipped off that Menzies was going to stand down, and, on 19 January 1966 Menzies told cabinet of his intentions. The following day called a joint meeting of the Coalition (the Liberal Party and the Country Party) during which he announced his resignation.[1][2]
Leadership election
About 15 minutes after the joint meeting ended, the Liberal Party met separately to elect Menzies' successor. Treasurer Harold Holt, the party's deputy leader since 1956, was elected unopposed.[3] According to Holt's biographer, Tom Frame, "the change of Liberal Party leadership was achieved with remarkable ease and without any destabilising lobbying [...] there were not discontented rivals to provoke either ministerial resistance or backbench revolt". Holt told his wife Zara that he was proud to have become prime minister "without stepping over anyone's body".[4]